What is a medical coder's job description?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

A medical coder's job description is to apply industry-standard codes that relate to specific medical diagnoses, treatments, and procedures to patient health records in the healthcare industry. Insurance companies then use these codes to process claims and ensure that patients are billed properly.

Common job duties and responsibilities that are included in a medical coder's job description are the following:

Account for coding and abstracting of patient encounters, including diagnostic and procedural information, significant reportable elements, and complications
Research and analyze data needs for reimbursement
Analyze medical records and identify documentation deficiencies
Serve as resource and subject matter expert to other coding staff
Review and verify documentation supports diagnoses, procedures, and treatment results
Audit clinical documentation and coded data to validate documentation support services rendered for reimbursement and reporting purposes
Assign codes for reimbursements, research, and compliance with regulatory requirements utilizing guidelines
Identify discrepancies, potential quality of care, and billing issues
Research, analyze, recommend, and facilitate a plan of action to correct discrepancies and prevent future coding errors

Typically medical coder job descriptions look for a person who has at least their high school diploma, but ideally an associate's degree in medical coding. Job descriptions also require that a person has a medical coding certification, some prior background in the healthcare field, and is detail-oriented with good communication skills.